Boruto: Reigning Shadows
Chapter One
Leaves in the Rain
All was quiet as three Hidden Leaf Shinobi made their way through the barren wasteland full of scattered, dead trees leading to the lake that surrounded the city of the Hidden Rain Village. The three wore unmarked cloaks over their clothes, with hoods cowling most of their features.
"Boruto, Shikadai" one of them spoke, stopping in her tracks and kneeling down, her glasses concealing her eyes in the darkness as they gazed forward.
The two accompanying her stopped, one whose golden hair could be seen protruding through his cloak's hood peered around the wasteland in front of them. The three had come to a cliff-side, where the Hidden Rain Village was in-sight, but still a good distance away.
"What? There's nothing there," Boruto spoke, his bright-blue eyes twinkling a bit from the moonlight. Beside him, Shikadai, the third person accompanying them, took out a kunai knife from the pouch on his leg.
"Here," the he spoke, bringing the knife up and lightly using it to tug on a thin string that was laid-out before them, invisible to the naked eye if the small amount of light trickling in from above didn't slightly illuminate it when moved. "It's a strong yet thin thread, definitely made with newer technology."
Boruto gulped. "How did you guys see it-?" He looked at the two with slight confusion. Sarada shot a glance over at the boy, who instantly realized when he saw the crimson-red appearance her eyes had taken. "Ah, Sharingan…"
"For me, it was intuition," Shikadai said with a sigh, pulling the kunai away. "It was too easy getting this far, so something annoying was bound to pop-up."
"This means we should be careful from here-on out," Sarada pointed out. She gazed across the thread's length, noting that it went all the way around the cliff-side with seemingly no end. "We'll have to figure out a new approach, if traps are going to be so intricately placed."
"Man, you're so lucky you were made leader of this mission," Boruto commented to the side, poking the ground.
"More like she was the one most trusted by Lord Hokage," Shikadai said with a smirk. This pissed Boruto off, but he ignored the golden-haired boy and looked to Sarada. "Don't worry, I had a plan laid out for this."
The boy stood and turned, dashing away towards the way they came, the other two watching him go.
A few minutes passed, and all Boruto and Sarada could do was wait. They watched the semi-far-away Village suddenly get shrouded in a blanket of rain as a storm overtook it, leaving the surrounding areas with a mere drizzle.
"They wouldn't send us out here without a good reason, right?" Boruto's question was mainly rhetorical, but he wanted something to break the silence.
"I don't doubt Lord Hokage," Sarada responded, "We just need to infiltrate and see if any suspicious activity is brewing."
Boruto checked out the odd structural design of the village and the ominous look of it with the swirling clouds up above. "This place seems sketchy enough."
Behind the two, a draft began to pick up, one that quickly grew more and more powerful until they were forced to stand and brace themselves.
"What the—"
A little ways back from the way the three came, Shikadai was brewing up a sandstorm utilizing new technology developed in the Hidden Sand Village, entrusted to former-denizen (and his mother) Temari. In each hand was a specially crafted hand fan, the material made of scroll-paper with microscopic markings and Chakra Seals within it to strengthen its power. With this as well, came Shikadai's natural ability to manipulate and infuse Chakra with the essence of Wind, creating literally the perfect storm.
"Wind Style: Twin-Dancing Hurricanes," the boy muttered as he began to spin with growing speed, emitting Chakra from his hands into the fans, which then enhanced them with the built-in Seals and began to kick up the sand and dust around him. Soon enough, Shikadai had managed to create a swirling vortex of wind that carried the sand.
Then, with all his might, Shikadai exerted a large quantity of chakra and sent the sandstorm towards the Hidden Rain Village.
Boruto and Sarada found themselves suddenly taking the full-brunt of a sandstorm, being blown off of the cliff, straight through the trip-wire. Nothing would be heard except the roaring of dust and sand as it flew past.
The two slid down the cliff-side before reaching the ground, Sarada landing elegantly while Boruto sort of tumbled and landed face-first. Shikadai rejoined them quickly, and was greeted by an angry Boruto shaking his fist his way.
"What the hell! Could've warned us, ya know!" Boruto's attitude quickly changed however, as he further stated, "Or let us see your cool move."
"Now's not the time. We can use this storm as a way of diverting the fact that we're setting off their traps and alarms," Sarada said, nodding to Shikadai who nodded back to confirm that she was right.
Plus, that'd be embarrassing for anyone to see me use that jutsu, Shikadai thought, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Grr… Alright, let's go then." Boruto led the way, rushing out towards the village.
Sarada sighed. "That's my line.." She and Shikadai followed suit.
Within the Hidden Rain Village, a special Hearing was being done in the center of the village. Not a traditional Hearing with Judge, Jury, and Executioner, but rather, it featured one person who fulfilled all roles, his hulking figure towering above anyone else around.
In front of this person was a woman, cowering in fear, wearing the white vest common of a medical doctor, her legs and wrists bound together.
"You stand guilty of treason, for feeding information to the village's enemies. How do you plead?" The bulky man's voice was deep and thunderous, easily reaching the spectators around without him even trying.
The woman looked up, quivering from fear and chills caused by the heavy downpour. "I… I…"
From the crowd, a man wearing a rebreather and dirty work clothes bust through, running for the woman, screaming and shouting curses towards the man in front of her. The large man turned his head slightly to the oncoming interference and held a hand up to him.
"Lord Kashrin, no-!" The woman tried to plead, but it was for not.
In an a mere moment, red electricity sparked from Kashrin's hand, travelling along the falling rain until it reached the man's throat. It entered his body and jolted him backwards, making him stumble back. The man grasped and scratched violently at his own throat as his veins began to swell, his body contorting before his legs gave way and he fell forward, twitching and kicking for a moment before death grasped him.
"Well?" Kashrin turned his gaze back to the woman, who was even more horrified than before. She then looked around at all of the onlookers, who were mostly industrial workers and other denizens of the village, all trying to avert their eyes, turning their back to her.
"Y-You… all… are cowards! You'll all live in his shadow forever!" The woman's outburst echoed through the industrial complexes around them. "There's nothing that can save this damned village, except deat—"
Crack! It was over in an instant, as Kashrin sent a jolt of electricity directly into the woman's temple. She fell backwards, her mouth foaming, convulsing for a few moments before ceasing.
"…Guilty," Kashrin muttered. When he had looked up, the crowd was already dispersing, going on about their lives as if nothing had transpired.
"You're too much man," came a voice from behind. Kashrin knew this voice, so he didn't bother to even see who it was, knowing it to be his partner Yorshka who was approaching with a sinister smile, per usual. "We don't just want to rule by fear, right?"
Yorshka was a pale figure in a ragged, white cloak with various purple symbols and lines fleeting across its fabric. Barely visible at his neck was a patch of rotten skin that led beneath his clothing, revealing a sort of secret vileness to the man.
Kashrin was quite the opposite of Yorshka, being a hulking brute-like figure who wore black bindings with similar purple embroidering. The man's face was rugged and weathered, obviously seeing countless struggles in his many years.
"Fear is something that controls the weak," Kashrin replied, "If no-one here is able to rise above it, then they are all weak, and thus must be beneath us."
Yorshka whistled, impressed. "Wow, you're kinda scary, huh?" Yorshka patted the man's arm, chuckling as he felt him flex his muscles as if to warn him. "Boss-man doesn't want things getting too messy, alright?"
Kashrin blinked at the man, then turned towards the sky, where the wind had begun to pick up. The clouds above began to churn more than usual, and the rain was being thrown almost completely sideways as dust and sand overtook the village.
"A sandstorm? In the rainy season?"
"No," Kashrin responded solemnly. "It appears that things will have to get… messy, as you put it."
Near the large gates leading into the Hidden Rain Village, several Jonin were posted to keep watch, wearing large, circular hats that blocked rain from their view, as well as rebreathers that helped them to manage in the smoggy city.
Visibility had dropped significantly due to the sudden sandstorm blowing in, but that only put them on higher alert. The sounds of the incredible winds were deafening, so the Shinobi relied on their eyes for guidance.
However, this would prove to be of no use, for their opponents already had the advantage of surprise.
A light-blue sphere formed through the low visibility, causing the guards to tense-up. Then, obviously unnaturally, the object was thrown up above them. Two of the guards reacted by throwing shuriken at the object, but the object suddenly vanished. Confused, they looked around to see if it was a distraction—
It wasn't.
Suddenly, the sphere reappeared where it had vanished, exploding into a storm of lightning that illuminated the area and fired bolts around the ground below it. Half of the Shinobi guards were struck and sent away in a plume of smoke, while the others managed to jump out of the way in-time. However, while they were trapped in the motion of dodging, several figures rushed out from the cloud of dust to assault them.
"How'd ya like my signature Bolt Rasengan!" They all said in unison, all clones of Boruto. Two of them managed to deliver strong punches to their guards, but the remaining Rain Shinobi managed to out-maneuver them and take them out with a poof!
There were only four remaining now, and they all went back-to-back, beginning to weave hand signs. They then spoke in unison: "Water-Style: Water-Barrier Jutsu!" From their mouths they spat torrents of water that coagulated together and formed a protective dome around them.
"Tch, like that'll work!" Boruto's clones rushed forward with Rasengans swirling in their right hand, while their left began to channel electricity across it. Bringing their hands together, they formed a spiraling ball of electricity and hit the barrier from four separate angles. However, to their surprise, the barrier dispelled their Jutsu and knocked them backwards.
The clones poofed and Boruto and Sarada emerged into view, staring down the four Rain Shinobi.
"Smells like the work of Leaf Shinobi," one of the men growled. He looked at his fellows and nodded a silent idea. The man then ceased his jutsu and slinked back towards the back of it leading to the Village gate. He reached forward to move through the barrier—But his movement stopped. Confused, he looked around with his eyes, trying to find a reason.
That was when Shikadai emerged, stepping in-line with Boruto and Sarada. The three were calm and collected, which made the Rain Shinobi realize something was amiss.
But it was too late. With a few quick movements of Shikadai's arms, the paralyzed Shinobi inside the barrier turned and incapacitated his own colleagues. They fell, and thus, so did the barrier. The last one, eyes wide in shock, gazed down at the shadowy tendril that was attached to one of his legs.
"You're not the only one who gets to show off Boruto," Shikadai commented. "But thanks for the light, I guess."
"Sheesh, everything's a competition…" Sarada shook her head and rushed in, kneeing the man in the stomach and knocking him out. He fell to the ground, the shadow dissipating. She nodded to Boruto. "You two know what to do. I'll be back."
Without anything more, Sarada ran through the gates to the Hidden Rain Village.
"This plan seems a bit risky," Shikadai stated, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Eh.. Sarada's not one to do something she's not sure of," Boruto retorted, putting his hands in the signature sign of the Shadow Clone Jutsu, making several appear around him. "Let's just make this as convincing as possible."
Not long after the assault on the gate, Kashrin had arrived to the scene. The wind had begun to peater out along with the blinding sand that accompanied it, making it easier to see the condition of the guards.
The hulking figure stood in an alleyway near the gate and examined them. The ten guards stood where they were meant to, a few hidden near the back of the gate, all tensed-up and at the ready.
"Hm…" Kashrin took a step out of hiding, ready to approach the guards—However, there was a sudden explosion near the center of the Hidden Rain. Almost instantly, the man stepped back into the shadows, and vanished from the scene.
Boruto and Shikadai, whom were hiding around the gate, out of sight, let out sighs of relief.
"That was close… That guy looked kinda scary," Boruto muttered.
Shikadai pulled his hands apart, releasing his Multi-Shadow Possession Jutsu. Most of the guards fell over limp, still unconscious. The others poofed, revealing them to be transformed Shadow Clones Boruto had created.
"But that explosion's pretty bad, right?"
Boruto nodded. "We should go and make sure everything's alright." He began to move, but Shikadai stopped him by grabbing his shoulder.
"Nope. We've gotta keep up the act here if anyone comes along. Plus, you don't want to deal with an angry Sarada, right?" He blinked up at Boruto, who shivered.
"…Right."
Sarada was in disbelief as the stared down at a terrifying sight at the large, traditional-style building before her that usually housed the leaders of the Rain Village, or so she had been told.
There, sitting upon a pile of rotting corpses, was Yorshka. The man yawned from boredom, twirling a kunai around one pointer-finger.
"Man, the storm's already passing. Nobody fun came to play?" He sighed and closed his eyes, raising his face to the sky, the wind gently blowing his silver-hair.
So there is something going on here, Sarada thought, holding her mouth from the foul stench that was emerging not only from the smog-infested city, but the pile of bodies as well. I can't stay any longer, this looks dangerous—
Just as Sarada began to turn, Yorshka sat up and gazed in her direction. She froze. I'm out of sight, I know it…
"You have a very pleasant smell," the man called out to her with a chuckle.
Instantly, Sarada was out of there, jumping from her hiding spot and rushing across rooftops, not caring who saw at that point. She had made it pretty far, but visibility was improving as the storm passed, and Sarada knew she was increasingly in danger.
Whoosh! Something flew past her head. She recognized it as a kunai with an explosive tag. Sarada was forced to jump to the side as the entire building's roof exploded, sending a plume of smoke that was quickly quelled by the downpour.
Now on the streets, Sarada continued her escape, but she quickly found several Rain Shinobi intercepting her. Her eyes glowing red in the darkness, the Uchiha girl expertly ducked under an oncoming punch and struck the assailant in the jaw, knocking him out instantly, then did a short jump forward to knee another in the head, sending him spiraling away.
Two more emerged with katanas brandished, slashing at the girl at the same time. Sarada kicked one of them away and brought her hand up to catch the other.
"SHANNAROOO!" Sarada surprised her attacker with her strength, pulling him forward by his blade and punching him with intense force, enough to send him back into the other sword-wielder, making them fly through a nearby building's wall.
Sarada was breathing heavily from the effort, but something seemed off. She looked down at her hands, which were becoming blurry. With shaky hands, she removed her glasses, but that only made the problem worse.
"It's taking effect, my poison I nurtured from a little bab'," the voice of Yorshka came from behind.
Surprised, Sarada turned and jumped back, almost falling as her body began to tremble. Sure enough, the man was standing right behind her a moment before, smirking wickedly.
"Poison…!" Sarada gasped at pain jolting through her leg and gazed down.
There, a hole was visible in her cloak near her hip. She ripped the lower-half of her cloak away, revealing a leech-like entity attached to her. Her eyes opened wide in terror and she reached down to grasp it, tugging.
"It's no use. Once you're stuck, it'll only come off if I command," Yorshka said, slowly approaching her as she struggled with the creature. "If you wish to live, I require something of you, precious, young shinobi."
Before Sarada knew it, the man was in front of her, grasping her face and forcing her to look at him. She gazed at him with a mix of anger and fear, her Sharingan still showing brightly.
"A kiss, perhaps?" Yorshka licked his lips, then chuckled. "No no no, I'm not such a simple man. Perhaps…" His eyes fell upon her body, and his hand slowly moved down her face, to her neck, then rested at her chest—
"RASENGAN!" Boruto came in from above, a powerful Rasengan swirling in his hand. He brought it down upon Yorshka, who looked up but seemed to not care to move.
As soon as the Jutsu hit his face, Yorshka's body exploded into thousands of the same leech that had stricken Sarada.
"Boruto, look out!" Sarada's shouts were weak and croaky, but she tried anyways, watching as Boruto was suddenly smothered in the leeches.
Luckily, he poofed, revealing he was just a clone. Sarada let out a sigh of relief, but finally couldn't stop herself from falling backwards.
"Don't worry, we're here," came Boruto's voice behind her. Sarada looked up, realizing that he had caught her. He smirked. "Leader."
"B-Boruto…" Her eyes were becoming increasingly blurry. Beside them, Shikadai stepped forward as well. "Shikadai…"
"And you tell us that we're trouble," Shikadai stated. "Don't worry—"
Shikadai and the real Boruto stepped out in front of the girl as Yorshka showed himself once more down the street, facing them. Boruto gave a reassuring thumbs-up back to her.
"We've got this."
To Be Continued…
Next Chapter: Rain-Covered Tears